Don’t have as much time for the ballot explanation as I’d like, and I apologize for that. Covered a night game in Corvallis, got back to my Portland hotel at 2, filled out the ballot early this morning — it took longer than I had expected — and I’ve got an early flight to catch.

Anticipating questions as best I can, here are the highlights:

* Kept Alabama in the top spot but couldn’t help thinking, as I watched the Tide demolish Tennessee, that we now have a common opponent for Bama and Oregon.

Oregon 59, Tennessee 14.

Alabama 45, Tennessee 10.

And because final scores can be deceiving, let me add the halftime scores:

Oregon 38, Tennessee 7.

Alabama 35, Tennessee 0.

* I moved Oregon over Florida State and into the No. 2 position based on overall resume.

The Noles have the single best victory (at Clemson, by 37), but that’s offset by Oregon’s advantage in number of quality wins:

At some point, body of work carries more weight than a single instance of brilliance. I can’t tell you when that shift takes place (date on the calendar, number of games, etc). It’s different in every case of comparative resumes.

But for Oregon and Florida State, it’s now.

* Also moved Stanford up three spots, ahead of Clemson, Auburn and Missouri, based on body of work.

The Cardinal’s loss at Utah has been sapped of substance — the Utes are 1-4 in the Pac-12 — but Stanford now has a decent road win to accompany its three quality home wins (Arizona State, Washington, UCLA).

That’s at least twice as many quality wins as Clemson, Mizzou and Auburn.

* Ohio State remains No. 8 despite the impressive final score against Penn State (63-14). That’s the same Nittany Lions team that lost to Indiana, by the way.

My evaluation of the Buckeyes is as follows: One quality win (at home vs. Wisconsin) and a mighty soft schedule.

That’s not good enough to warrant ballot spots ahead of the likes of Stanford, Missouri, Auburn and Clemson, which have one more loss than tOSU but far better wins.

* UCLA dropped from No. 11 to No. 14 — not because of the loss in Eugene but because of Nebraska’s loss to Minnesota, which undermines the quality of the Bruins’ victory in Lincoln.

* As for Baylor checking in at No. 15, because I know there will be questions and criticism:

I’m far less concerned with final scores than quality of opposition, and Baylor has played an atrocious schedule:

The three non-conference wins (Wofford, Buffalo and La-Monroe) speak for themselves. (Despite being in first place in the MAC East, Buffalo has done nothing of consequence.)

The four conference wins are against teams (West Virginia, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas) with a combined Big 12 record of2-15.

Given that resume, I am frankly aghast that Baylor is in the top 10 of the major polls and BCS standings. (The Bears are No. 12 in the computers, by the way.)

The Bears have plenty of chances to record quality wins in coming weeks, starting Nov. 7 against Oklahoma. If the victories keep coming, I’ll move them up.

Jon Wilner

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How does Mizzou stay in the top 10 when they can’t even win at home or execute a short FG? They only drop to 7, meanwhile their big win over GA (the whole reason Jon rocketed them up from UNRKD to #7) and GA already has 3 losses, one to freakin Vandy!

Mizzou is barely top 25 material, yet Jon can’t help slobbering over any SEC team and has them top 10

David Parker

I like RGIII and I think Baylor will beat some good people and move up in future weeks. But 2 years in the NFL have proven beyond any doubt that Luck SHOULD have gotten the Heisman.

600 Pounds Of Sin

Wilner didn’t rank Oregon ahead of Alabama, FYI.

kingsfan

What does the Holiday Bowl last year have to do with the rankings this year?

Berry Tramel

The Heisman isn’t a vote to predict “who will have a better NFL career”.